Role Theory, Archetypes, and Moreno's Philosophy Illuminated by the Kabbalistic Tree of Life

Authors

  • ADAM BLATNER Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12926/356e6j71

Keywords:

archetype

Abstract

J. L. Moreno's vision, which sprang from his deeper philosophical intuitions about the essentially creative nature of the Godhead, was influenced in part by his study as a young man of Kabbalah. Moreno derived his notions of spontaneity from his contemplations on the nature of creativity and then envisioned the potential of drama as a vehicle for its liberation. Those musings led to Moreno's promulgation of role theory as a theoretical complement to psychodrama. In this article, the author links Moreno's role theory to Jung's concept of archetypes and to Moreno's concept of metapraxie. Those relationships are best appreciated by using the kabbalistic Tree of Life diagram. The author also addresses the implications for working transpersonally with clients, based on that diagram.

References

Blatner, A. (2000). Foundations of psychodrama: History, theory, and practice (4th ed.). New York: Springer.

Blatner, A. (2002a). The relevance of the concept of archetype. Retrieved May 4, 2005, from http://www.blatner.com/adam/level2/archetype.htm.

Blatner, A. (2002b). Enacted dialogue. Retrieved May 4, 2005, from http://www.blatner.com/adarn/ level2/enacteddialog.html.

Blatner, A. (2002c). Re-story-ing the soul. Retrieved May 4, 2005, from www.blatner.com/adam/ level2/restorsoul.htrn.

Blatner, A. (in press). Perspectives on wisdom-ing. Re Vision.

Blatner, A., & Blatner, A. R. (1988). The metaphysics of creativity as reflected in Moreno's "metapraxie" and the mystical tradition. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama & Sociometry, 40, 155-163.

Drob, S. (2000). Kabbalistic metaphors: Jewish mystical themes in ancient and modern thought. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.

Falcon, T., & Blatner, D. (2001). Judaism for dummies. New York: Hungry Minds.

Gray, W. G. (1975). Patterns of Western magic. In C. T. Tart (Ed.), Transpersonal psychologies. (pp. 431-472). New York: Harper & Row.

Halevi, Z. B. S. (1972). An introduction to the cabala: Tree of life. New York: Samuel Wieser.

Hollander, C. (1978). A process for psychodrama training: The Hollander psychodrama curve. Denver, CO: Snow Lion Press.

Johari, H. (1987). Chakras: Energy centers of transformation. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books.

Moreno, J. L. (1941). The words of the Father. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (1947). The theater of spontaneity. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Moreno, J. L. (1989). Autobiography. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama & Sociometry, 42, 1-73.

Myss, C. (1996). Anatomy of the spirit: The seven stages of power and healing. New York: Three Rivers.

Myss, C. (1997). Why people don't heal and how they can. New York: Three Rivers.

Ponce, C. (1973). Kabbalah. San Francisco: Straight Arrow Books.

Winters, N. (2000). The psychospiritual in psychodrama: A fourth role category. International Journal of Action Methods, 52, 163-172.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-23

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 1 (2005): Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Sociometry

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  2. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  2. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
  3. NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
  4. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:

You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.

No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.